Recycling Markets Development in the 21st Century

July 31, 2018 – Peachtree City, GA

Recycled materials and trash should look very different from each other, but for years they have been converging in the U.S. China has not been the creator of today’s crisis in the industry – U.S. mills have been complaining for years – but China’s recent embargo of U.S. recycling imports is shining a mirror on our recycling industry and providing a clear signal that we can no longer pretend diversion of waste into a recycling bin is recycling.

Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) can produce quality materials out of both single stream and dual stream inputs, but not when 20+% of the input “recyclable” stream, in some cases, are not recyclables. A combination of “wishful recycling” and insufficient enforcement of quality is proving very damaging to the industry – abysmal and volatile markets, a dirty product that is not a reliable “commodity”, closed plants, and programs that are hurting economically.

We cannot continue to act and behave as if business as usual will offer a solution to today’s issues. We must fundamentally shift how we speak to the public, how we collect and process our recyclables, and what our end markets accept and utilize to truly recycle.

Look for our next workshops coming to the Midwest this fall.

THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS EVENT SPONSORS

Gold Level Sponsors

Silver Level Sponsor

Keep America Beautiful

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Georgia Agenda

JOINUSFOR THE SECOND IN THE SERIES

July 31, 2018 Peachtree City, GA

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Atlanta SW

9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Reception & Networking at 4

Background

SE Market Overview: Regional and Local Perspective

Pathways for Strengthening State Economic Development and Recycling (Markets) Programs